Recent Articles in Beginner

Duration: 14 minutes

Emphasis: You don't always need to find a big chunk of time to do your yoga practice, or find your mat or put your leggings on. Sometimes it's enough to slide off the sofa onto the floor and do a few simple stretches to loosen you up. Expect some familiar poses done with the support of your sofa. 

Props needed: A sofa!

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 18 minutes

Emphasis: In this class all the poses use two blocks - expect seated variations of Candle Pose (Prapidasana) and Garland Pose (Malasana), some Standing Forward Bends (Prasarita Padottanasana), Side Lunge (Skandasana), Child's Pose (Balasana), Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bhanda) and Stomach Twist (Jathara Parivartanasana).

Props needed: Two blocks (or thick books).

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 38 minutes

Emphasis: Use the wall to open your shoulders and stretch your arms and legs. The first part of the class is done standing and in the second part you'll be lying down with your legs up the wall (Viparita Karani). 

Props needed: A block and a blanket.

Mat direction: Have your mat up against a wall.

Duration: 33 minutes

Emphasis: A short Iyengar-style class that features classic poses such as Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), Pyramid Pose (Parsvottanasana), Seated Twist (Marichyasana III), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana) and Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha). Expect lots of alignment cues and holding the poses for at least 3 breaths. 

Props needed: None required except if you need a blanket for Savasana .

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 41 minutes

Emphasis: A slow, quiet Yin Yoga class for when you're feeling weary but need a good stretch. You'll move from Dragon lunge, to the gentle backbend Melting Heart and then into Child's Pose for your forward bend. Half Frog will open the hips and a Reclined Twist will rotate the spine - meaning you'll have done a rounded practice and, hopefully, feel rested and calm too.

Props needed: Two blocks, a blanket and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 34 minutes

Emphasis: A standing warm-up takes you into a standing sequence that includes Triangle Pose (Trikonasana), some variations of Wide Leg Standing Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana), Goddess Pose ((Utkata Konasana) and Tree Pose (Vrksasana). The seated sequence includes Wide-Angle Seated Forward Fold (Upavistha Konasana) and Blossoming Lotus Pose (Vikasita Kamalasana).

Props needed: Two blocks and a yoga belt.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 17 minutes

Emphasis: Enjoy this very gentle class that uses circles and spirals to mobilise and free the joints. We work through the body from the shoulders to the feet and I hope you'll feel relaxed and comfortable after this practice

Props needed: A blanket for under your knees.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 1 hr 14 minutes

Emphasis: In this gentle class we warm-up by going top-to-toe through the body, mobilising the joints and stretching the muscles. Then there are two standing pose sequences followed by some seated twists, and forward bends. A lovely long Savasana resting on blocks or cushions completes the practice, leaving you feeling nice and loose, limber and relaxed.

Props needed: A yoga belt, 2 flat blocks or 2 cusions and a blanket.

Mat direction: Long edge facing the screen.

Duration: 9 minutes

Emphasis: A short meditation that promotes feelings of kindness towards oneself and others. This practice has many benefits - a sense of calm and relaxation, a quieter mind as you focus on this one thing, and acceptance and understanding of our emotions.

Props needed: N/A.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 43 minutes

Emphasis: I loved recording this chair class - and I hope you do too. We repeat the sequence 3 times so you start to know where we're going and can focus on the sensations in the body rather than working out the instructions in your mind. Expect lots of twisting variations seated on the chair plus some poses kneeling on the floor with the hands on the chair so make sure your chair is sturdy and wont slip.

Props Needed: 2 blocks and a sturdy chair plus a blanket for under your knees if required.

Mat direction: Long edge of the mat facing the screen.

Duration: 15 minutes

Emphasis: Take a few minutes to rest and become quiet amidst the busy-ness of your day. This guided Savasana takes you from head to toe, inviting you to soften and release tension, then there is some silence. I hope you enjoy it and feel your heart-rate and breathing slow down and your body become still. Please note the words are by a teacher called Indu Arora, not me.

Props Needed: Whatever you need for a comfortable Savasana.

Mat direction: N/A.

Duration: 24 minutes

Emphasis: Strengthen your legs with these almost-yoga leg exercises! You'll use a chair to support you standing and sitting as you work legs, buttocks, hips and core in this hopefully fun workout.

Props needed: A sturdy chair.

Mat direction: A mat is optional - just make sure you won't slip.